Final Fantasy IX Switch Port Is Not Based On Mobile Version

Square Enix has cleared up a misconception about the Final Fantasy IX port on Nintendo Switch, which some had believed was based on the mobile version.

In a recent interview, Final Fantasy brand manager Shinji Hashimoto explained that such an assumption wasn’t “entirely accurate.”

The developer had used the original version as a base to then re-create it using the Unity engine. From that, it was then ported to mobile, Steam, Nintendo Switch, as well as other consoles.

“‘Based off of the mobile version’ isn’t entirely accurate – to start, we used the original Final Fantasy IX as a base and re-created the game using the Unity engine,” Hashimoto clarified to Hollywood Reporter.

“Using that version as a base, we created the mobile version as well as the Steam and Switch versions. As such, it’s not actually based off of the mobile version; rather, it’s based off of the version created on Unity.

“The mobile version was released first, so I think there may be many people who think that was the version used as the base, but in fact that isn’t the case. Additionally, when it comes to other titles, we wouldn’t necessarily use this method every time – we port titles using the method best suited for each one, so it varies.”

Final Fantasy IX is now available on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch worldwide.